God, Make Me More Discerning

As you probably know by now, this is a topic that has become almost a burden to me. My heart is grieved by the lies the devil is slipping in under the radar, and how many are falling for them. I am going to speak to the women because, well, I am a woman! I know how you think, feel, rationalize, and react. Because I do the same.

After posting the article on how a pastor’s wife saw the error in Beth Moore’s teaching last week, another email hit my inbox that blessed me greatly. But before I share it with you, I want to share what I am aiming for: this is to become a Christian woman of discernment. I have realized how easily I can be deceived – in fact we all are, but we women more so than men, as Eve is prime example of. That is why I pray that God gives us the spirit of discernment so that we preserve our own souls, and the souls entrusted to us . . . to the best of our ability.

What does a truly discerning woman look like?

I believe that first of all, her heart will be sold out for the Lord Jesus Christ. Completely and totally. If she has a heart so full of devotion, surrender, and love for her Lord – then she will be able to shun the errors that come her way. She is living to please the King, and only Him.

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30

She will love truth – the absolute truth, and nothing but the truth . . . even if it is to her own detriment. Suppose the truth says that her heart is in the wrong – this woman will love the truth still and repent of her heart’s condition. She has a soft heart, one that welcomes conviction – for with conviction comes repentance, forgiveness, and the indwelling of the Spirit. And there resides deep and abundant peace.

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. I John 3:18-21

This lovely woman does not place her hope in any other person. Not her husband, her children, a famous author, a study book, or anything that is earthly. She places it in the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. So by not placing her hope in a particular author or speaker, she is able to quickly lay aside anything that smacks of deception.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. I John 2:15

Now on to the “laying aside” part. She is a woman who can flee, forsake, and let go – of anything earthly. I’ve often thought that if the Lord asks me to give up or let go of something in my life, and I hesitate . . . my heart convicts me that the roots had already went too deep.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. Matthew 16:25

This honorable woman knows how to pray. She prays from a heart of full surrender. Her prayers are simple, yet fervent and passionate at times – just like the Savior’s were. She knows how to struggle and then lay it down like our Jesus did when He prayed, “Not My will, but Thine be done.”

Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done. Luke 22:42

She loves her Bible. Within its pages she realizes are the words of life that will keep her close to the Father’s heart. She desires nothing but the pure, cool water of life that spills from between its covers. She knows she can trust it fully, wholly, and forever. Anything that she hears in her other reading or teaching that raises caution, she knows to take back to the Word.

And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Revelation 21:6

Let me say this again: she loves the truth more than any feel-good emotion that may come from expertly phrased and romanticized words. For she knows that it is the truth that will set her free.

Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth. John 17:17

Oh to be like this woman. . . “God, make me like this woman and give me fellow sisters who desire to be like this, too.”

Below is an excerpt from the article I read this past week that blessed my heart – and I hope it will bless yours as well. Link to the full article is in the title and also at the end of the excerpt.

“Your recent article on prayer really helped me. I was always taught that prayer was a two-way conversation. For years, I would talk to God and wait for Him to talk back to me, but He never did. I thought it was because there was unknown sin in my life, or that I didn’t have enough faith, or that God just wasn’t interested in me. It’s so freeing to know the truth.”

Comments like this from readers are always bittersweet for me. It makes me practically giddy to hear from Christian women who have been set free from false doctrines they’ve been taught, but it also grieves me deeply to reflect on the years they spent thinking they were somehow deficient as Christians or doubting God’s love for them simply because they were taught, and believed, unbiblical notions and ideas.

Let’s see if we can dispel a few of those today:

1. Prayer is this big, complicated, mystical thing. Nope. Prayer is simply talking to God about whatever is on your heart. What’s made prayer complicated is the unbiblical teachings that have grown up around it such as praying in “tongues,” listening prayer, contemplative prayer, sozo prayer, soaking prayer, etc.

2. “Women’s Ministry” equals fluff and silliness. There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun from time to time. Hey, we all need to blow off steam, right? But if cookie exchanges and teas and painting parties and dress up parties and sleepovers and makeup parties and fashion shows and movie nights are all your women’s ministry does, it’s unhealthy. And it’s not really a ministry, either. If something is a “ministry” it should exist to point people to Christ and disciple them once they get to Him. Your women’s ministry should include ministry of the Word, discipleship, Titus 2-type mentoring, evangelism, comfort ministry (to the ill, shut-ins, new moms, new members, etc.), serving the church, encouragement, supporting your pastor and elders, and so on.

3. Women’s Bible study- great balls of fire, don’t get me started. ♦ A Bible verse (or half a Bible verse) plus an inspiring story from the author’s or someone else’s life is not Bible study. Bible study is picking up your Bible and studying it. . . {end of excerpt – you can read the full article here}

Comments

QUOTE:
“she loves the truth more than any feel-good emotion that may come from expertly phrased and romanticized words. For she knows that it is the truth that will set her free.”

This sums up your article beautifully. Love it.

I know how troublesome it is to identify false teachers – it will earn you a lot of criticism and that does not “feel good”. Because I have been duped too many times in the past I now rarely read books distributed by ‘ministries’ because of the dangers noted in your article. The benefit of this experience is it forced me to study the Bible for all its worth…and there is so much in there just for the taking. The Holy Spirit loves it when we find delight in his word. There is real joy, delight in doing so.God bless you. Keep on keeping on.

Thank you, thank you Kendra for this article. I read the complete article and I found myself reading more and more articles about all the popular women teachers out there. It saddens me so many women are being deceived by these women.

You, my friend….i want to meet you in person one day! Thank you once again for sharing. I know these sentiments very deeply and very personally. Thank God for the holy spirit, sent to guide us into all truth. The simplicity that is in Christ is my hearts desire. It was also Paul’s heart cry for the Corinthians.

This subject/article is very sobering + convicting. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never researched an author before reading a book *recommended by a friend*. And so I’ve just been part of the cycle. I truly want to be a woman of discernment living a sound doctrine. Thanks for this eye opener…